Rowlock for metallic boats.



PATENTED 00T. 6, 1903.

J. L. BURTON.

RpWLooK POR METALLIC BOATS.

APPLIGATION FILED 0GT.13. 1902.

N0 MODEL.

, UNITED STATES Patented October 6, 1903.

PATENT @Erica .IOSIAH L. BURTON, OF MARTINSVILLE, INDIANA.

nowLocK FORl METALLIC corri-S...`

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 740,626, dated October 6, 1903. l

pplioation filed October 13, 1902. Serial No. 126,977. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom, it may concern: y

Be it known that I, JOSIAH L. BURTON, a citizen of theIInited States, residing at Martinsville, in the county of Morgan and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rowlocks for Metallic Boats; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon', which form a part of this specification.

My present invention relates lo the vportable type of sportsmanis boat, and particularly to sectional or knockdown boats, and the invention has particular reference to rowlocks therefor.

The object of the invention is to provide improved rowlocks adapted particularly for hollow gunwales v'for the purposerof rendering metallic boats of this character strong, light, and durable.

The invention consists in the novel parts and in the combination and arrangement of paris, as hereinafter `particularly described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l represents a side elevation view of a sectional boat to which my improvements are especially adapted and applied; Fig. 2, a iop plan view of the boat; Fig. 3, a transverse sectional view of the boat, showing the baseportions of the rowlocks attached to the gunwales; Fig. 4, a vertical central sectional View of the base portions of a rowlock, taken in a plane transversely of the boat, showing the devices attached to the gunwale; Fig. 5, an outer side elevation of abase portion of a rowlock; Fig. 6, an end view of a base portion of a rowlockv having a securing-bolt connected therewith; Fig. '7, an. outer side elevation of the clamping part of the base portions of a rowlock, and Fig. 8 an end elevation of the clamping part.V

In the drawings similar reference characters indicate like parts in the several figures thereof.

In practically carrying tout the purposes o my invention I have designed the base portions of the rowlocks so as to be specially useful on hollow gunwales and also be applicable to wooden as well as either hollow or solid metallic gunwales, as will be apparent, and it will be obvious also that the oar-sup ports of the base portions of the rowlocks that are attached io the gunwales may be variously designed, so that the oars may be mounted thereon in a variety of ways.

As illustrating the purpose and advantages of my invention I show a well-known type of sectional boat, a, h, c, and d designating the several sections thereof, l and 2 the sides of the boat, 3, 4, and 5 the joints of the sections, e the keys of the section-locking devices, and 6, 7, S, 9, l0, and 11 the ends of the sections.

The gunwale A, to which my rowlocks are designed to be applied, is hollow and substantially circular in cross-section, composed of such metal as galvanized steel and slitted longitudinally, the edges oi' the metal at the sides of the slit being turned outwardly and formed as parallel flanges fand g, tting against the opposite sides of the boat side l or 2, while the yinner side of the top of the tube-likegunwale rests upon the top 12 of the boat side towhich the flanges are soldered.

The rowlocks comprise basesD and baseclamps E, both connected together and to the gunwales. The bases may have sockets m toreceive swivel-yokes vi3 or be otherwise adapted to support and carrythe oars. The bases and base-clamps have apertures 14 and 15, respectively, through which bolts 'n extend for attaching the bases to the gunwales, thumb-nuts o being tted cnt o the bolts. Each base D has a pair of curved-clasps lo extending down over the inner side of the gunwale,

the clasps having lips-fr bearing against the flange g. The clamp E has a pair of clasps q, extending over the outer side of the gunwale,these clasps havinglips s bearing against the flange f of the gunwale. The clamp E also has an upper bearing t, preferably having a notch a, the bearing extending up to the horizontally-disposed top c of the base D and also against a suitable shoulder, which in the presentcase is provided by the socket m, so that the clamp E helps to stiien the base D proper and forms a part thereof, besides being a means for attaching the base to the gunwale.

.The longitudinal axis of the gunwale being curved so as to con form to the lateral and ver- IOC tical curves of the top of the boat sides, the rowlock base-clasps are curved to'conform to the curvature of the gunwale.

In practical use the sections of the boat may be disconnected and connected in a wellknown manner, and the rowlocks may be loosened and moved along the gunwale to any desired positions and also be slipped otl the ends of the sections ofthe gunwale. As will be seen, the rowlock connections for resisting the strains induced by rowing are strong, yet light and neat in appearance, which are desirable features in boats of this character, while the rowlocks may be quickly removed when desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new isl. A rowlock including` a base member comprising a body having a socket and also having a clasp of semicircular form,the extremity ofthe clasp being adapted to bear against the side of a boat under the gunwale; a clamp member comprisinga body having an end portion adapted to bear against the body of the base member adjacent to the socket therein and also having a clasp of semicircular form, the extremity of the clasp extending laterally toward the extremity of the clasp of the base member and adapted to have bearings against the lower portion of the gunwale of a boat and also against the boat side under the gunwale; and securing means in connection with the said bodies securing the same together and whereby the clasps may be secured to a boat 2. A rowlock comprising a base provided with a pair of curved clasps having each a lip extending therefrom, a socket-body attached to the base, a base-clamp engaging the base and provided with a pair of curved clasps having each a lip extending therefrom, a pair of securing bolts and nuts connecting the base and the baseclamp intermediately of the clasps and the socket-body, and an oar-supporting device swiveled in the socket-body.

A rowlock comprising a base provided with a curved clasp having a flatv lip extending therefrom and having also a shoulder, a base-clamp engaging the base and the shoulder and provided with a curved clasp having a flat lip extending therefrom, a securingbolt connecting the base and the base-clamp intermediately of the clasps and the point of engagement of the clamp and the base, and an oar-supporting device connected with the base.

4. In a rowlock, the combination of a base member comprising a body portion, a pair of curved clasps 'extending from the body portion, and a pair of lips extending from the clasps,all being integral,the body portionhaving a socket for the oar-swivel; a clamp member comprising a body portion adapted to engage the body portion of the base member, a pair of curved clasps extending from the body portion, and apair of lips extending from the curved clasps, all being integral; securingbolts extending through the body portions of the base member and the clamp member; and screw-nuts on the bolts engaging the body portion of the clamp member; said lips being oppositely disposed for engagement with the boat sides below the gunwale thereof; substantially as set i'orth.

5. In a rowlock, an oar-supporting appliance comprisingapair of opposing members, the lower portions of which are identically formed and having bearings at their extremities oppositely disposed and adapted to bear against the side of a boat under the gunwale thereof, the said lower portions being adapted to bear against the gunwale; an oar-carrying device in operative connection with the opposing members; and securing means in operative connection with said opposing members connecting the same together and whereby the said extremities may be secured to a boat side.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J OSIAH li. BURTON. lVitnesses:

F. M. M. VAIR, N. A. WHITAKER. 

